Rowe says he addressed a similar letter to President Obama in 2009, but received no response.

"We have unintentionally disconnected ourselves, in a really fundamental way, from the most important part of our workforce," Rowe told attendees at the free mini-summit. "I'm talking about the men and women who do the kinds of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. The people who keep the lights on, people who allow toilets to work, the people who pick up roadkill."

Rowe stressed the "need [for] more opportunity and training" as well the "desire" to do those dirty jobs, but didn't elaborate on why he thought Romney was better choice for blue-collar voters.